New Ulm weekly review., 1887-09-14
The Rust1c1. Continues
about the Paintings
az Turner. Hay.

T.
About the Paintings
az Turner. H0lE.
In last weeks issue of the Review
spoke OF the wall-painting which IS first
on the right, entering the lower bar
room by the front door, and represents
the city Of Heidelberg with its famous
castle. The next painting-the one be-
hind the har-rack- represents the cas-
tie known as Rheinstein. This castle
is situated on the left bank of the
Rhine, opposite Assmannshausen, and
about three miles below the famous
''Bingen on the Rhine Its origin
dates from the twelfth century. Being
one of the haunts of that noble knight
hood whose predatory habits were but
a trife inferior to those of railroad cor
porations in our day, the castle was de.
stroyed by Emperor Rudolph Of Habs-
burg in the last quarter of the thirteenth
century. It was subsequently, rebuilt
and again. destroyed. About threescore
years ago, the ruins and site were pur-
chased by Prince Frederick of Prussia,
who rebuilt the castle in its present
form.
The schis tose rock thae carries the
foundation of the castle Weathers so fast
that it was found necessary, in rebuild
ing, to bind the rock with large iron
clamps and chains, which may be seen
in vending ones way to the main gate.
As to the color of the rock, the painter
succeeded in reaching far greater
depths than were ever dreamed of by
nature herself, in that locality at least.
-
The castle Of Rheinstein now contains
valuable collections of coats of mail,
weapons and trophies Of war. Among
the most interesting OF these are the
helmet Of Franz Won Sicklngen, the
sword and the left glove of Goetz Won
Berlichingen, and the complete armor
of Albrecht 1.-The Bear" A strange
looking contrivance to be seen in one
of the rooms would convince the most
skeptical that the piano of the sixteenth
century differed somewhat from the one
recently purchased by the young ladies'
class of the Turnverein. Among the
principal attractions of the castle, the
ancient forester who fills the office of
janitor deserves to be prominently
mentioned. In figure and features he
resembles Bismarck so closely that it be-
comes necessary to look upon his
bright-eyed daughter in order to be able
! to distinguish the two men.
Once upon a time there dwelt by the
castled Rhine, and more particularly in
| the castle OF Rheinstein, redoubtable
knight named Sifrid, whose only daugh-
ter Gerda was wooed and won by Kuno,
valiant young knight who dwelt in
the neighboring castle of Reichenstein.
According to the custom of that time,
Kuno sent his uncle Kurt of Ehrenfels
to ask Sifrid's consent for the intended
match. Kurt, however, in his inter.
view with Sifrid treacherously substi-
tuted his own name for that of Kuno,
and the young lady's hand was pledged
to him, despite her remonstrances. Upon
hearing of this turn of affairs, Kuno ap-
peared before the moat of Rheims tein,
determined to carry the castle. But
the Notifications and.the garrison proved
too strong even for the most desperate
lovers bravery, and his troopers were
twice repulsed with great loss. After
midnight Kuno withdrew with his van
quished band to his own castle, from
whose ramparts he saw, soon after
dawn, pompous procession issue
from the gates Of Rheinstein and wend
its way toward the Church of st. Gle
| ment, situated below near the bank of
the Rhine. The central figures of the
pageant were Gerda and the faithless
Kurt, who were to be united sin holy
wedlock bands without delay. But
fate had something of surprise in
store for the unhappy couple that was
thus on the point Of being parted for
ever, Suddenly a swarmsof horse-fies
arose from the brush and attacked
Gerda's courser. The noble animal
reared, overturned the aged, ,,Sifrid and
his steed, and scattering knights and
servants to the right and left, dashed
with furious speed along the rocky
ledge that borders on the Rhine. Ger
da proved herself equal to the ocea-
sion. Seeing the glittering .ur-ets of
her lovers castle on the heights above,
- Z .